Container for holding and dispensing fluid

Abstract

A container for holding and dispensing fluid has a flexible bag to which a spout is connected. A specially designed adapter within the spout has an opening sealed by a plug. A tubular probe is inserted into the adapter opening and snapped onto the plug. The connected probe and plug are pushed into the bag to permit fluid to flow through apertures in the probe. The probe channel is filled with fluid before insertion into the bag, thus introducing substantially no air into the system. Withdrawing the probe snaps the plug back into the adapter to re-seal the bag without substantial introduction of air, and without any leakage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector for dispensing fluids from a container having a fluid storage portion and a spout opening comprising: (a) an elongate member having an interior channel to transport said fluid having an entrance from the exterior and said member being sized to closely fit within said opening; and   (b) a plug positioned within said opening which seals said opening through first snap fitting, said plug and said member being mutually engageable by means of a second snap fitting, said plug and said member being mutually slidable while engaged to permit said channel entrance to extend into the storage portion of the container to dispense fluid, said first fitting being more difficult to release than said second fitting is to effect, thereby ensuring that the member and plug are mutually engaged before said plug and member are slid into the storage portion breaking the seal.   
     
     
       2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said second fitting is more difficult to release than said first fitting is to effect to permit said plug to be repositioned within said opening to reseal the opening before said member and plug can be disengaged. 
     
     
       3. The connector of claim 1 wherein: said plug is a sufficient distance from said channel while said member and plug are mutually engaged within said storage portion of the container to prevent the walls of said storage portion from inhibiting the flow of fluid entering said channel.   
     
     
       4. The connector of claim 1 further comprising means cooperating with said member and said spout opening to form a second seal between the exterior of the member and the interior of the opening, said means positioned so as to effect said seal before said plug is slid into the storage portion breaking the seal. 
     
     
       5. A device for holding and dispensing fluid comprising: (a) a flexible bag supported by a rigid box;   (b) a spout attached to said flexible bag;   (c) an adapter positioned within said spout having a bore which provides communication between the interior of the flexible bag and rigid box exterior;   (d) a plug sized to fit within said bore, said plug having a first position located within said bore and coaxial with said bore in which the bore is sealed and a second position in which the plug is exterior of the bore so the seal is broken;   (e) a probe separable from said bore sized to fit coaxially within said bore having means for engaging said plug and for pushing said plug into said second position, said probe having an interior channel which extends through an opening in an exterior wall, said channel opening being positioned to effect communication with fluid in the bag while said plug is in the second position, said probe including means for selectively returning said plug to the first position for resealing the bore;   (f) means for locking said probe in position within said bore while said channel opening is in communication with the fluid.   
     
     
       6. A fluid container adapted to dispense fluid through a probe having an interior fluid channel comprising: (a) a box;   (b) a flexible bag supported within said box;   (c) a spout separable from said probe attached to said bag;   (d) an adapter positioned within said spout having a bore which provides communication between the interior of the flexible bag and the box exterior;   (e) a plug sized to fit coaxially within said bore to seal said bore, said plug being releasable from said bore to permit movement into the interior of the flexible bag to break the seal in response to being pushed by said probe, said probe pulling said plug back into sealing engagement with said bore when said probe is removed from the interior of said flexible bag.   
     
     
       7. A device for holding and dispensing fluids, comprising: (a) a container having a fluid storage portion;   (b) a spout opening attached to said container which permits fluid to flow from the fluid storage portion to the exterior of the container;   (c) means for dispensing a fluid from said container, said dispensing means having an interior channel to transport said fluid in communication with the exterior, said channel being substantially free of gaseous material to prevent contamination of said fluid;   (d) means for sealing said spout opening positioned within said opening;   (e) means for engaging said sealing means with said dispensing means, said engaging means comprising a first snap fitting between said dispensing means and said sealing means, said dispensing means having means for positioning said channel within the storage portion of the container by removal of said sealing means from said spout opening to break the seal, said sealing means having means to prevent said removal until said dispensing means and said sealing means are in mutual engagement, said removal prevention means comprising a second snap fitting between said sealing means and said spout opening, said second snap fitting being more difficult to release than said first snap fitting is to effect; and   (f) means cooperating with said dispensing means and said spout opening for securing the interface between said dispensing means exterior and said spout opening against passage of fluid, said securing means being positioned to effect securing before said sealing means is removed.